by Allan Taylor

Created on: February 06, 2009   Last Updated: July 19, 2011

La Tierra de Lagos y Volcanes.

Nicaragua is a land of lakes and volcanoes due it’s location along the junction of two of the Earth’s crustal plates, the Pacific Cocos plate and the Caribe plate. Every few years there is plate movement initiating an earthquake or volcanic eruption.

Are you up to the challenge of exploring Nicaragua? In all there are about fifty volcanoes of which seven are presently active or semi-active. It is a land of great natural beauty and biological diversity. Attracted are nature lovers, bird watchers, surfers, hikers plus tourists who appreciate the fine arts such as handicrafts, ceramics and a tropical cuisine.

 Lago Nicaragua is the largest lake in Central America, measuring 160 kms long and 65 kms at its widest point. It is very shallow being 26 meters at its deepest point and is only 32 meters above sea level. It drains via the Rio San Juan into the Caribbean Sea. Its origin is tectonic or due to down warping of the Caribe geological plate.

Historically it was very important, for the lake allowed easy boat access by pirates from the Caribbean to attack the inland Spanish settlement of Granada. This low level crossing of Central America was popular with gold miners heading for the Californian gold rush.

Volcanoes play an important role in the economy, scenery and tourism of Nicaragua. Rich fertile lowland soils have developed from weathering of the volcanic rocks which benefit the development of agriculture and forests. Volcanic rock quarries provide paving and building stones and special clays are used to make ceramics.

How to get there and get around?  Managua, the capital city (population ca. 1.1 million) has an International airport that caters for Central American flights, together with daily flights to Miami and Houston. The Tica Bus Service has daily air-conditioned buses traversing Central America, running from Chiapas, Mexico through to Panama and vice versa. There are two routes in Nicaragua with an overnight stop at Managua.

What weather to expect in Nicaragua? The capital Managua lies 12 degrees North of the Equator. The rainy season is June to October. The climate is tropical in the Pacific and Caribbean lowlands and cooler in the north central highlands which reach to 5000 feet altitude.

Leon city (population 145.000), once the nation’s capital for 300 years, is really the political, ecclesiastic and cultural center of Nicaragua and has a fine university. Its churches, plazas, museums and

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